b'(continued from page 1) works, how to qualify for coverage and make claims for benefits, your right to continue healthbenefits when you lose coverage or change your job, and protections for special health con-tions.Educating workers and their families about these rights is a critical part of the Departments mission.To help increase your health literacy, here are five tips to make your health benefits work for you:1.Explore your health coverage options. There may be many different types of health benefit plans available to you. Find out what is offered through your employment, then check out the available plan(s). 2.Read your plans summary plan description for the wealth of information it provides. Your summary plan description outlines your benefits and your legal rights under the Employee Retire-ment Income Security Act, the Federal law that protects your health benefits.3.Use your health coverage. Once your health coverage starts, use it to help cover medical costs for services such as going to the doctor, filling prescriptions, or getting emergency care. Whats more, many plans cover certain preventiveservices, such as annual visits and mammograms, for free. 4.Understand your plans mental health a substance use disorder coverage. Many health plans provide coverage for mental health and substance use disorder benefits. If a plan offers these benefits, the financial require-ments (such as co-payments and deductibles) and the quantitative treatment limits (such as visit lim-its) for these benefits cannot be more restrictive than those applied to medical/surgical benefits.5.Know how to file an appeal if your health benefits claim is denied. Understand your plans procedures for filing a claim for benefits and appealing the plans decisions. Pay attention to time limitsmake sure you file claims and appeals in a timely manner and that the plan makes decisions on time.In addition, life and work events often require a change your health coverage. Are you getting married or divorced, getting ready to expand your family through childbirth or adoption? (continued to page 26) 22'